Hokkaido

The Hokkaido is a Japanese breed that is dignified. They are devoted and calm dogs that can be on alert when need be. They are sure-footed and have a ton of stamina. Their coats are longer and thicker than those of similar Japanese breeds. These dogs love to work on tasks and are excellent problem solvers.

Hokkaido Breed Overview

One of six native Japanese dog breeds, the Hokkaido is a medium-size dog that was bred in the cold, rugged mountains of Hokkaido. They were acknowledged as a living monument to Japan in 1937.

Hokkaido Facts

• This is an extremely rare breed outside of Japan.
• There are about 10,000 dogs registered in Japan. 
• The Hokkaido is one of six native Japanese dog breeds.
• They can come in many colors, including sesame.
• They are also known as Hokkaido Inu, Ainu Ken, and Hokkaido Ken dogs.
• They are prized for their problem-solving skills.

How to Care for Your Hokkaido

Here’s what you need to know about the Hokkaido dog breed, including nutrition and feeding, health and wellness, grooming and hygiene, and living with the breed.

Nutrition & Feeding

What to Feed a Hokkaido

The Hokkaido is a medium-size dog that needs a diet with high-quality protein listed as the first ingredient, followed by moderate carbohydrates and good, healthy fats. Look for foods that cater to their size, such as Purina Pro Plan Adult foods. If your Hokkaido is highly active, consider a line like Purina Pro Plan Sport foods. These formulas will have a particular balance for dogs that burn more calories throughout the day.  

How Much to Feed a Hokkaido

How much to feed your Hokkaido dog depends on their weight, stage of life, and other factors. Refer to the label on your dog’s food for guidance by weight, or speak to your vet. The Purina Feeding Calculator can also help. There, you can enter your dog’s weight, age, activity level, and more to get an accurate amount. Hokkaidos benefit from scheduled feedings to help them maintain energy levels throughout the day.

Treats & Supplements

Hokkaidos can have low-calorie, high-protein treats during positive reinforcement training sessions. Treats should not make up more than 10% of a dog’s overall calories for the day. Speak to your vet before giving your dog any supplements. They may or may not recommend things like probiotics for gut health or glucosamine for joint health.

Health & Wellness

Veterinary Care

Find a vet you like and bring your dog there regularly for checkups. Your vet can help you with things like spaying or neutering your dog, parasite prevention, and vaccine schedules. They can also advise you on dental care, an essential part of helping your dog age well. The breed is generally healthy, but could have conditions like joint issues – especially if obese – or eye issues, which your vet can monitor for.

Hokkaido Enrichment & Exercise Needs

Alert and active, Hokkaido dogs need a lot of exercise and mental stimulation to feel satisfied and be well-mannered. They’ll enjoy switching it up, so try adding hiking, jogging, free running, and leash walks to your exercise routine. Mentally, these dogs like scent work, trailing games, obedience training, and agility training. A bored Hokkaido can be a destructive one, so it’s important they get enough stimulation throughout the day to prevent unwanted behaviors like digging and chewing.

Understanding Your Hokkaido’s Behavior

The Hokkaido was bred to protect, so they can be aloof or wary of strangers. Socialization can help with this. They are smart and independent thinkers, which means they can be stubborn, but consistent training can help them understand boundaries. Their high prey drive needs to be managed, and introductions need to be done carefully and slowly, especially with small animals like cats and rodents. Watch them carefully off-leash, and it’s preferable that they be let loose in well-secured areas only, like a fenced-in yard. They also need ample mental and physical stimulation to prevent boredom.

What to Expect as Your Hokkaido Ages

A generally healthy breed, Hokkaidos can live between 12 and 15 years. Your vet can advise you on when to switch them to a senior dog food. Some senior dog food formulas provide nutrients to help with mental clarity, joint health, and more.

Grooming & Hygiene

Skin & Coat Health

The dog’s double coat has a dense undercoat and coarse outer hair that helps keep them warm in cold weather. Their coats need regular brushing as part of their grooming routine to remove loose and dead hairs, especially during seasonal shedding.  Only bathe them when truly dirty as overbathing can strip their coats of essential oils.

Ear, Paw & Dental Care

Clean your dog’s ears with vet-approved wipes regularly, and inspect their paw pads for cuts and scrapes that could lead to infections. Trim their nails to prevent painful splitting and cracking. Dental care should be part of your grooming routine as well. Brush their teeth regularly and offer dental chews if appropriate. Good dental hygiene can help prolong your Hokkaido’s life.

Anal Gland Care

Medium-size dogs may or may not be able to express their anal glands naturally. If they cannot, a blockage can form an impaction. If not addressed, this can lead to an abscess that requires veterinary care. You’ll know they’re having trouble if they are emitting a foul-smelling odor, licking excessively, scooting, or straining to go to the bathroom.

Living With a Hokkaido

Living Space

Hokkaidos do best with lots of access to the outdoors, especially with a secure, fenced-in yard in a suburban or rural area. They should be supervised off-leash due to their strong prey drive and instinct to chase. They can be calm indoors, so long as they get enough mental stimulation. They love routine and thrive on having one.

Socialization

Socialization is super important for this breed. They are naturally aloof and suspicious because they were bred as watchdogs, so it’s important to introduce them to unfamiliar people and places early and often. If you have small animals like cats and rodents, introduce them slowly. They can do well in family life, but are a better match for families with no children or older children who can participate in the dog’s exercise and mental needs.

Climate Considerations

This Japanese dog breed was bred to withstand cold, harsh conditions and has a double coat to protect them. They do less well in hot and humid climates. In warmer weather, offer plenty of shade and water, and try to exercise them in the coolest parts of the day. Watch them for signs of heat exhaustion. No dog should be left outside in extreme temperatures for long periods.

Potential Challenges

The Hokkaido is a very rare breed outside of their native Japan, which can make getting information about the dog in the United States difficult. They have a high need for mental and physical stimulation, so they do best with families that are active and can include them in their lifestyle. A high prey drive means that they are prone to chasing after scents, and they’ll need to be managed carefully off-leash, even in a secure area. They are renowned for their problem-solving, and with that comes independent thinking, which can be frustrating for a dog owner. Consistent training and socialization will help with this.

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